Another reason for the failed nomination was that SZDSZ was not consulted ahead of time and Szili lacked qualifications compared to Sólyom who previously held high office as the president of the Constitutional Court of Hungary.
However, if the governing parties had been united in support of the Hungarian Socialist Party candidate, Katalin Szili, Sólyom would not have secured enough votes to take the Presidency; but because Szili was not acceptable to the Alliance of Free Democrats, the smaller party in the governing coalition, they abstained from voting, and Sólyom's election was secured.
Katalin Zamiar | Katalin Szili | Katalin Bánffy | Katalin Bogyay |
EP President Martin Schulz, former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, President János Áder, former presidents László Sólyom and Pál Schmitt, Archbishop Péter Erdő and former parliamentary speaker Katalin Szili were also in attendance, as well as representatives of the Socialist party, Fidesz, Christian Democrats, PM and DK, among others.